Benton in the Spotlight

Benton never has enough pictures posted. So although, Tab is also in a few of these, this post is for Benton.

Sacked Out

After his shots... This picture doesn't properly demonstrate what a crank he was for the entire day following the shots

Benton Playing with his toys... once again being dominated by big brother.
All of the cousins that were there taking a bath together at gradma's house. Ok so this one isn't just of Benton... but at least he's in the picture. I just had to share. Are they so cute? And you should have seen how disgusting the bath water was after. NASTY
Benton with Great Grandma Solter
This time Dad is sacked out.

Thanksgiving in PA

We spent Thanksgiving at parents house in Pennsylvania. We visited all of the places I love and enjoyed a lot of rain (that is the nice was of me saying dude it rained a freaking ton). Tab as well as my sister's kids thoroughly enjoyed my mom's chickens, as can be witnessed below.











Here is Tab encountering his first chicken, courtesy of my little brother. Can anyone guess what habit is being displayed in this picture that makes me want to scream?
And here is Tab taking his turn gathering "grama chicken eggs"



















Grandma showed them all the different parts of the chicken.
















Don't worry, he ain't scared. He loved holding the chickens. Weirdo.
























Hmm... maybe he saw grandma doing it a few times. Mom, it still makes me laugh to think of you snuggling your chickens.


The kids also had a blast playing in the soggy wet leaves.

Miles and Tab were the best of friends and the worst of enemies.
Exhibit A: Play Also known as chasing eachother in circles, which was very cute I might add.




Exhibit B: Hitting





Exhibit C: Now that we're friends again, let's play.




Again the boys playing. There was a LOT of this going on. And I just have to give Tab props for winning with a score of 153. lol




And just for fun, what happens when Tab has someone to play with 24 hours a day.

Headed Home

I think that no matter where I live and no matter how long I live there Pennsylvania will always be home. Friday afternoon we are packing up and driving the 16+ hours to Pennsylvania to visit my family for Thanksgiving. There are so many things I look forward to when going home and as I think about it they are quite weird. So to get some of my excitement out so I don't go crazy over the next few days, here are a few things I'm looking forward to.

My mom's crazy messy sewing room: My mom always lets me pick a pattern or project or whatever to work on. And she helps me make it. Did I mention that she always just happens to always have the perfect fabric just sitting around? She is seriously amazing.

Roots: Prounounced with the best Pennsylvania Dutch accent you can muster. Every Tuesday in Lancaster there is a huge farmer's market type of thing. I LOVE this place. They have all sort of booths with people selling their produce and various wares. And in the evening they have an auction-a food auction. I love going to this with my mom and sisters. I'm always way too nervous to bid for some reason. But I love watching my mom do it. And I love the randomness of what we end up taking home with us.

Gabriel Brothers: This store seriously rocks. They sell clothes from all different stores that for one reason or another didn't quite make the cut to end up in that actual store. So they are generally cheap! I'm talking Limited, Express, Aeropostale, Abercrombie, The Children's Place, Gap etc. etc. etc.

D & K: This is a surplus grocery store. (Read: An old, semi-dirty, hole in the wall, tiny aisles, freaking cool store). Another cheap cheap cheap store. They get in some of the most random things. It is fun!

Fall: Fall is gorgeous in PA. I can't wait! I'm seriously jumping up and down at the thought of it. The crisp air, the leaves, the smell, mmmmmm (deep inhale)... oh the smell.

Wood Stove: I love my parents wood stove. It is the smell and feeling and and and...it is home.

Martin's Potato Chips: You can't buy these out west. Ok... I guess that I am technically in the mid-west now. What are they, you ask? Only the best Kettle Cooked potato chips in the world.

Really do I need to go on to demonstrate how much I love it or how excited I am to go home? Because let's be honest, I could go on all day and night and the next day.

Hey there blue eyes...

Which one of us are you referring to you ask? Yes that is right, Benton definitely has his daddy's eyes too! I am quite pleased. How couldn't you be- I mean just look at them. Now if only I could get a picture of him where he doesn't have red eye so you can tell. Alissa you are going to have to teach me that one.


And lest you all think that I forget I have a second child. Here are a few more of Benton.

I don't take good pictures...

... But I'm trying. I've really been trying to take somewhat better pictures. I'm rarely successful. I think that these are some of my best. Kinda sad huh.

I know I really need to get and learn how to use photoshop to crop and brighten up these pictures a bit.

Now if only I had the camera of my dreams and could learn how to use it...sigh.

Forgive me Father, for I have sinned

Yes, I know that I didn't post Halloween pictures immediately. I've been told, by several people. As penance I will be posting several times over the next week as I have some cute new pictures of the boys. But for now here are the boys in the Halloween costumes I made them. Tab is obviously a cowboy. Benton is a peanut upon Jason's request as it is his nickname for Benton.

First, a picture from the Homecoming Parade for the local university. (not the one Jason is attending). Tab was excited to see the firetrucks... oh wait, excuse me Tab, the Fire Engines.

We had a bit of a hard time getting a good picture of Tab in his costume. He was always to busy playing or eating candy or throwing a fit because we wouldn't let him suck on 5 suckers at the same time. Sigh...

And Finally a picture of both of the boys. Here we were trick-or-treating in the dorms.